Prairie Landworks

Chief of Operations

McPherson, KS - Full Time

About Prairie Landworks:

We are a small but growing company that specializes in crafting complete solutions in general, commercial, industrial, and civil building and other critical infrastructure projects. We don't just build to plan and spec; we create projects with character and integrity, delivering the quality we would expect if we were building for ourselves. Teamwork, optimism, and hard work are at the heart of everything we do to improve lives through construction in our communities.  We are searching for a proven Construction Operation Leader that exemplifies our Company values of Grit, Safety, Integrity, Relationships and Accountability and can build a Team culture around them.

How you'll get to contribute:

True-to-form for a small growing company, we've grown accustomed to wearing too many hats, which makes it difficult to get to the next level. This key role will focus on driving operational excellence and people empowerment. Collaborating directly with the founder/President, you'll free him up to focus on business development, systems and vision and legacies for our people and customers.

What you'll get to develop:

  1. People & Culture

    • Establish a well-defined organizational structure that identifies necessary roles and defines them clearly for each team member.
    • Foster clarity and empowerment by finalizing accountability charts that communicate expectations.
    • Equip new hires to excel in their roles by developing a systematic onboarding process.
    • Create a nurturing company culture by implementing programs to recognize, reward, support, and develop people.

  2. Operational Excellence

    • Maintain consistently high safety standards, regulatory compliance and superior project outcomes by taking full ownership of operations and delivery of self-performed projects from $25K - $10M.
    • Drive successful project delivery across all sectors by developing systems to streamline processes, ensure operational excellence, optimize efficiency, and increase growth and profitability.
    • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and other key stakeholders by providing exceptional service and addressing concerns proactively.
    • Achieve targeted financial profitability by monitoring key financial metrics, analyzing financial performance, seeking opportunities for strategic partnerships & growth, and implementing strategies for improved financial performance.
    • Empower teams to take ownership of superior project outcomes through comprehensive documentation and training.
About you:
  • You have 8+ years of recent heavy civil and industrial construction experience.
  • You're proficient in construction financials and accounting, including WIP. 
  • You have experience with construction contracts and delivery methods; including design-build, negotiated, alternative project delivery and time & material work.
  • You're a seasoned professional who excels in self-performance work and adeptly trains and mentors teams to achieve excellence. With a strong work ethic and a history of working your way up, you prioritize listening, learning, and effective documentation. Your leadership style revolves around accountability and coaching, never compromising on your moral and ethical principles. In the face of challenges, you persevere, constantly learning and growing.
  • You're warm, but not soft. You embody humility and respect, effortlessly transitioning from boardroom meetings to working alongside the crew in the trenches. Committed to the safety and well-being of all, you lead by example and aren't above seeking guidance as needed.
  • You thrive when fostering collaboration, effortlessly bridging the gap between outgoing talkers and introverted critical thinkers. Your ability to connect with diverse personalities, build trust, and create an open environment is strong. By embracing openness and trust yourself, you inspire others to do the same, recognizing that this is key to avoiding stagnation and achieving the greatest outcomes.
  • You have the ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen, background check and driving record check.
  • You're authorized to work in the US without sponsorship.
Even better (but not required) if:
  • You have well rounded experience in manufacturing, municipal, development, and oil & gas
  • You have a Construction Management or similar degree
  • You have experience with Acumatica Construction Edition (Accounting/PM) or HCSS software solutions 
What’s in it for you:

Premium Equipment and Technology
  • Late-model machinery
  • Topcon GPS machine control
  • Opportunity to invest in additional ROI-producing equipment
Professional Development
  • Twice annual peer group meetings - Roundtables with a community of contractor peers and business leaders to solve shared business challenges
  • State and local trade association membership
Variety
  • We’re in a strong manufacturing, oil, and gas industrial marketplace, so there's plenty of work and opportunity here
  • If you dislike the grind of repetitive projects, you'll get to work on a mix of projects from building construction and civil work to industrial piping, landscaping, planning, concrete, dirt work, utilities, water infrastructure, and negotiated & alternative delivery building work.
Balance
  • Don't mistake variety for overwhelm. We want to have a work-life balance that is sustainable for all employees.  
  • 3 weeks PTO to start plus 7.5 paid holidays, birthday paid off after 1 year of service
  • We aim to work a 45-50 hour week, which you will help us attain by getting our staff trained up.
  • Early Fridays 
  • Our target market is within a 90-mile radius so that we can be home nightly with rare exceptions.  
  • Our travel work is rare and typically short duration. We’re not chasing travel work until we get systems operating like a well-oiled machine.
Well-Being/Financial
  • Salary commensurate with experience in the range of $115K to $150K
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision - 60% minimum company paid
  • 401K / 401K Roth plan with 4% company match on 4% employee contribution
  • Company provided vehicle
  • Boot allowance after 1 year of service
  • Supplemental voluntary benefits (i.e., cancer coverage, critical illness, life insurance, accident coverage, etc...)

We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and creating an environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We comply with all applicable laws governing EEO and affirmative action, and we ensure that all employment decisions are made solely based on job-related qualifications and merit.
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